Coco Gauff weighed in on the WTA' new eligibility rules this week in Toronto. The two-time Grand Slam champion provided a "nuanced" take on both trans athletes and competitive fairness in the sport.
Her comments came after her first round win at the 2026 Canadian Open.
The WTA Tour recently rolled out gene testing for players. The screen looks for the SRY gene, a marker tied to male sex development. The policy replaces earlier guidance that had allowed trans athletes to compete based on testosterone levels.
Currently, no transgender women play on the tour.
What Coco Gauff Said About Trans Athlete Inclusion & WTA Gene Testing
"I do think that this kind of conversation has created a lot of animosity towards the trans community, which I'm not really a big fan of," Gauff said.
"I also understand, I guess, the biological difference and the need to protect that and preserve that."
Gauff added that the rollout "could have been more transparent" with players, while acknowledging the larger conversation is "very nuanced."
Other players disagreed. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has outspokenly supported the change, citing "fairness" for women's tennis.
On the court, Gauff opened her Toronto run with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Kayla Day. She now faces Maria Sakkari in Friday's Round of 32.
